Turn it Down: The Gina Furtado Project brings the strings to Elderly

Touring banjoist and her band stop in Lansing

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UPDATE: This show has been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.

Friday, March 13 @ Elderly Instruments, 1100 N. Washington Ave, Lansing. All ages, $15, 7 p.m.

Fronted by Virginia-based banjoist, singer and songwriter Gina Furtado, the Gina Furtado Project lays down catchy, relatable, original material that sounds both contemporary and traditional. The group’s progressive approach to bluegrass melds folk, swing, gypsy jazz and everything in between. Friday, the band of pickers rolls into Elderly Instruments for a performance. Tickets are $15. The band will also teach a Bluegrass Band Workshop at the store from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. The cost is $30.

“We’re excited to host Gina Furtado and her band to kick off our 2020 concert season,” said A.J. Glaub, Elderly Instruments special events coordinator. “Gina is an incredibly creative and talented performer who I had the pleasure of hosting at Elderly in 2019 for our yearly Banjo Round Robin — a showcase of Midwest Banjo Camp instructors. She absolutely stole the show, in my opinion.”

Joining Furtado is a cast of equally compelling and talented musicians: Max Johnson on bass, Drew Matulich on guitar and Malia Furtado (Gina’s sister) on fiddle.

Twice nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Banjo Player of the Year, Gina began touring across the East Coast in her tweens alongside her siblings. Along the way, she earned countless ribbons at fiddle conventions and built a strong reputation in the regional bluegrass scene.

Her first burst of national recognition happened during her four-year stint playing for Chris Jones and the Night Drivers. After that, her debut album, “True Colors,” was released in September 2017 and debuted at No. 13 on Bluegrass Billboard Charts. The LP also comprised two tracks that reached No. 1 on the Bluegrass Today Charts. Last fall, her sophomore album, “I Hope You Have a Good Life,” debuted at No. 6 on Bluegrass Billboard Charts. The disc, released via Crossroads Records, received praise from No Depression magazine, which called the LP “fun, energetic and riveting.”  When Furtado isn’t busy touring or recording with her band, she is also a sought-after music instructor, both privately and at music camps across the country.

Meanwhile, Johnson has a prolific recording history as a bassist in not only bluegrass circuit, but in the jazz scene, as well. Over the years, he’s released nine solo albums and has played on over thirty records — working with the likes of John Zorn, Anthony Braxton and Muhal Richard Abrams, among others.   

Matulich, the guitarist, is a Georgia native who grew up listening to Doc Watson and Merle Travis. Now living in Asheville, North Carolina, he’s immersed in the thriving bluegrass scene, and has toured and recorded with emerging star Billy Strings, made a guest appearance on a Roland White album and shared stages with the likes of David Grisman, Bryan Sutton and Sierra Hull.

Hailing from the Northern end of the Shenandoah Valley, fiddler Malia Furtado began her musical journey at the age of 3 with classical violin lessons. However, by age 7 she became enamored with bluegrass music after she attended her first festival, Galax Old Fiddler’s Convention. Like her sister, she also has played in various groups, won a stack of awards and doubles as a music teacher. When she’s not on the road, she is the director of education at the Front Porch Music School in Charlottesville, Virginia.

For tickets to the Elderly concert, visit elderly.com/events.

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